4 Key features to Mobile friendly website design

With traffic from mobile and tablets set to overtake desktop traffic this summer, having a mobile-friendly website is no longer a “nice to have,” but rather a necessity. Here we’ll take you through four key features of mobile friendly website design, that helps give web visitors a positive mobile experience.

1. Large call-to-actions
Large, clear, clickable calls-to-action (CTAs) are a must for any mobile friendly website. When browsing on a mobile phone or tablet, it is hard to be precise when clicking. Large buttons makes clicking easier and are more finger friendly for website visitors. The recommended clickable size for a CTA is around 44 x 44 pixels, and there should be space around the CTAs to prevent mis-clicks. As well as making sure your CTAs are large, they should also be clear and prominent making them easy to see on a smaller screen.

2. Simple navigation
Navigation on a mobile website should be simple to browse. Vertical navigation is preferable over horizontal navigation where scrolling is necessary. As with a desktop website, users should be able to find what they are looking for quickly, and with as few taps as possible. Stackable vertical navigation should use the same principle as CTA – the clickable area should be large to avoid mis-clicks. Keep the navigation simple with few menu categories. If your website contains large amount of content, a nested menu may be a good option for better organization.

3. Click-to-call functionality81% of conversions (such as a store visit, call or purchase) triggered by a mobile search occur within 5 hours. With impressive stats like this, it’s essential to have a method for website visitors to easily contact your business. Click-to-call allows website visitors to phone your business in just one tap, and is a great alternative over an online form which may be difficult to fill out on the smaller screen.

4. Maps
If you have a storefront or public place of business, a map on your mobile website is essential. Users browsing on a mobile device are often away from home and may be looking for where your business is located in order to pay an in-person visit. Additionally, giving your site visitors a way to find directions to your business location is also important. A location map coupled with GPS functionality built into mobile devices, will give customers directions to your business from their exact location, wherever they are.

With mobile usage set to rise even further in 2014, make sure your website is optimized for mobile, and make it easy for potential customers to contact you on the move.

Already have a mobile-friendly website? Tell us what results you’ve seen from click-to-call and map functionality.